Swiggy Denies iPhone Pricing Disparity, Enhances iOS App with Apple Intelligence

Launched in 2014, Swiggy has transformed into a hyperlocal delivery powerhouse, now offering food, groceries, essentials, dine-out options, and more. Today, the company operates in over 500 Indian cities and processes millions of orders daily.

To understand its continuous innovation, especially on iOS, two engineering leads from Swiggy — Mitansh, Engineering Manager (Consumer iOS), and Agam, Engineering Manager (Instamart iOS) — share insights into the brand’s growth, tech partnerships, and Apple-focused developments during WWDC 2025.

Growth Through Focused Innovation

Expansion Across Categories and Services

“Swiggy started operations in 2014,” Mitansh recalls. “Back then, we were only doing food delivery, but since then, we have ventured into other business lines, be it Instamart, Dineout, Handpick, and others.”

Swiggy’s evolution is driven by a deep commitment to seamless and efficient customer experiences.

“At Swiggy, our main aim is to ensure we are providing a seamless experience and stability to the user: our crash-free rates are at 99.9 percent, and our page load times take less than 500 milliseconds,” Mitansh states.

Strong Ties with Apple Developer Centre Since 2018

Swiggy has worked closely with Apple Developer Centre in Bangalore to integrate new iOS features and frameworks since 2018.

“We have used this opportunity to integrate some of their latest technologies, some of which are even yet to be announced,” says Mitansh.

Live Activities Integration on iPhones

Swiggy was one of the first Indian apps to adopt Live Activities, enhancing user convenience dramatically.

“It is a widget which you see on your lock screen, and it is used to see the order status without even opening your app... Right now, we are getting over 400,000 daily sessions of Live Activities,” he shares.

Accessibility for All

“Another thing which we have worked on with the Apple Developer Centre is accessibility... We have implemented a bunch of features around voice-over and voice control so that any user can interact with our app and place orders seamlessly,” Agam explains.

Swiggy not only integrates accessibility features but also tracks user engagement through accessible sessions, ensuring real-world impact.

“We try to inspire other applications as well, to make sure they are also making their apps more accessible,” he adds.

Fast Adoption of New iOS Technologies

Embracing Swift UI, OCR, and In-App Translations

“We try to be the front-runners and the first to adopt the iOS frameworks which Apple comes up with every year,” Agam highlights.

Swiggy has:

• Reduced development time by 30% using Swift UI

• Introduced in-app translation for menu text (English to Hindi)

• Implemented OCR features allowing users to scan lists and place Instamart orders instantly

“It became an instant hit on social media,” Agam notes.

Prioritizing Native Tech for Better UX

“We've been very vocal about using more and more iOS native text framework as it has helped improve screen load times by up to 50 percent,” Agam points out.

This results in a fluid, responsive experience that enhances customer satisfaction.

Swiggy Clarifies: No Pricing Bias Against iPhone Users

Persistent online chatter questioned whether iOS users are charged more. Swiggy sets the record straight:

“No, we don't do that. We don't have any algorithm like that... But we don’t have any price disparity based on Android and iOS,” says Agam.

He adds that price differences may stem from user-specific offers, not device type.

Algorithms at the Core of User and Restaurant Experience

Personalisation Through Data

From the restaurant list to gifting options, algorithms shape nearly every user interaction.

“It's based on your specific location and preferences,” Agam explains.

Backend AI for Restaurant Partners

“We have different DS models... We also have certain capabilities to enhance their images,” Mitansh shares, adding that AI ensures better image quality and automated menu descriptions.

Awaiting the Full Potential of Apple Intelligence

Swiggy was excited about Apple Intelligence introduced last year, hoping to incorporate it into their user experiences.

“One of the features which we thought will work [for us] is the Playground APIs... It is currently in beta,” says Agam.

They aim to let users create custom emoji profile icons using this AI-based feature.

However, Agam hopes for more impactful additions.

“Not that many use cases are coming as we were hoping for, so hopefully we will be seeing more features...”

Learning From Apple’s Global Best Practices

Swiggy’s journey with Apple began with basic accessibility training.

“In 2018-2019, we attended a bunch of sessions at the Apple Development Centre where Apple helped us understand the nitty-gritty of app accessibility,” Agam recalls.

This learning environment has helped Swiggy adapt and grow with best-in-class design and development standards.